THE ART CRITICISM PROCESS DESCRIBE ANALYZE INTERPRET EVALUATE

M.C. Escher, Rind, wood engraving and woodcut in black, brown, blue-grey and grey, printed from 4 blocks, 1955.

DESCRIBE This stage is like taking inventory. You want to come up with a list of everything you see in the work. Stick to the facts. Imagine that you are describing the artwork to someone over the telephone.

DESCRIBE Note First Impression Make a note of your first spontaneous reaction to the artwork. By the end of the process you may understand your first impression better or you may even change you mind. There are no wrong answers. M.C. Escher, Rind, wood engraving and woodcut in black, brown, blue-grey and grey, printed from 4 blocks, 1955.

ANALYZE Try to figure out what the artist has done to achieve certain effects. You should refer to your first impressions and try to explain how the artwork achieves that reaction using the elements and principles of design to help you articulate.

ANALYZE Use the vocabulary you learned in class. Examples: transparency, opacity, complementary or analogous color, etc. How are the elements of art (color, shape, line, texture, space, form, value) and the principles of design (balance, contrast, emphasis, movement/rhythm, unity, variety) used in this artwork? What do you notice about the artist's choice of materials? What grabs your attention in the work? Refer to your first impression. Do you see any relationship to the things you listed during the description stage? M.C. Escher, Rind, wood engraving and woodcut in black, brown, blue-grey and grey, printed from 4 blocks, 1955.

INTERPRET Try to figure out what the artwork is about. Your own perspectives, associations and experiences meet with "the evidence" found in the work of art. All art works are about something. Some art works are about color, their subject matter, and social or cultural issues. Some art works are very accessible — that is, relatively easy for the viewer to understand what the artist was doing. Other works are highly intellectual, and might not be as easy for us to readily know what the artist was thinking about.

INTERPRET What is the theme or subject of the work? What mood or emotions does the artwork communicate? Why do you think that artist created this work? What do you think the artist's view of the world is? What is the work about; what do you think it means? M.C. Escher, Rind, wood engraving and woodcut in black, brown, blue-grey and grey, printed from 4 blocks, 1955.

EVALUATE Evaluate This is a culminating and reflecting activity. You need to come to some conclusions about the artwork based on all the information you have gathered and on your interpretations.

EVALUATE Is this work successful? Why/why not? Have your thoughts or feelings about the artwork changed since your first impression? If so, how? What made you change your mind? If not, can you now explain your first reaction to the work? What have you seen or learned from this work that you might apply to your own art work or your own thinking? M.C. Escher, Rind, wood engraving and woodcut in black, brown, blue-grey and grey, printed from 4 blocks, 1955.